Executive Summary for Youghiogheny River Fisheries Management Plan 2015

Executive Summary for Youghiogheny River Fisheries Management Plan 2015 The purpose of the 2012 and 2014 surveys of the Youghiogheny River was to evaluate water quality and fish species occurrence in Sections 02 through 06, assess the river’s naturally reproducing gamefish populations (particularly Smallmouth Bass and Walleye), assess the results of fingerling stocking of Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout in Sections 02 to 05 (from the mouth of the Casselman River downstream to the dam at South Connellsville), assess the efficacy of annual Muskellunge stocking in Section 06 (from the dam at South Connellsville downstream to the mouth at McKeesport), and to update the fisheries management recommendations for the Youghiogheny River. All of the section and site data for the Youghiogheny River sampled in 2012 and 2014 were improved over the historic sampling numbers for water quality, fish diversity, and fish abundance. Smallmouth Bass made up the bulk of the available fishery at all sites sampled in 2012 and 2014. The water quality improvement was in large part due to the reduction of acid mine drainage from the Casselman River. This improvement in alkalinity was observed in the Youghiogheny River at Section 02 just below the mouth of the Casselman River, with an increase to 20 mg/l in 2012 from 11 mg/l in 1989. Section 03 (from the confluence of Ramcat Run downstream to the Route 381 Bridge at Ohiopyle) alkalinity improved from 13 mg/l in 1989 to 22 mg/l in 2012. Recreational angling in the Youghiogheny River for a variety of species has increased over the last fifteen years based on local reports. A primary reason for this comes from the improved status of the Smallmouth Bass population in the river. The 2012 samples of Smallmouth Bass from Section 02, 03, and 04 all contained a viable quality component in 2012, whereas the 1994 and 1989 samples did not. Sections 05 and 06 also held very good Smallmouth Bass populations. The Section 06 abundance and quality indices in 2014 were also considerably higher than those of 1992. Although Big Bass abundance and quality guidelines were developed 1 from lakes, we consider a quality bass population to have total CPUE over 35/hr, CPUE > 300 mm (12 in) above 7/hr, and CPUE > 375 mm (15 in) above 2/hr. Sections 02, 04, 05, and 06 at Cedar Creek/Boston sites were all in exceedance of these guidelines. In comparison, the free flowing upper Allegheny River (RM 72 to 198) contains a quality Smallmouth Bass population with the average catch of bass > 300 mm ( 12 in) at 6/hr. The 2012 and 2014 Youghiogheny River, combined Sections 02 - 06 average CPUE > 300 mm (12 in) was about twice that at 12.06/hr. These data show that the Youghiogheny River is currently one of the best, if not the best, Smallmouth Bass free flowing river in western PA. Bass abundance and quality was good, however bass growth was slow and therefore this river would not be a candidate for more restrictive regulations. Evidence of trout stemming from fingerling plants was documented in Sections 02, 03, and 05 during 2012 and 2014. Numbers captured during the survey were low, which was primarily a result of difficult sampling in fast, deep, and low conductivity water. Two to four times more Rainbow Trout were captured in 2012 compared to 1994. These trout also averaged much larger in 2012 than 1994 at 381 mm (15 in) and 240 mm (9.4 in), respectively. A similar quality component factor surfaced for Brown Trout in our 2012 sampling at the Section 03 Lick Run site. Similar numbers were captured between 2012 and 1994, but the average size Brown Trout was 408 mm (16.1 in) in 2012 versus 312 mm (12.3 in) in 1994. Compared to 1994, catch rates of quality-size Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, and Brown Trout in Sections 02, 03, and 04 were much higher in 2012. The number of Rainbow Trout captured in our Youghiogheny River surveys has consistently been higher than Brown Trout regardless of sample year. Our sampling included the variety of habitats available in the river. Rainbow Trout consisted of 72 to 100 percent of the trout captured over the years. This suggests that Rainbow Trout survival in the Youghiogheny River is higher than Brown Trout. Fingerling stocking has been comprised of equal numbers of each species in each section. Starting in 2016, the fingerling stocking will be with 70 percent Rainbow Trout and 30 percent 2 Brown Trout. This should also serve to increase catch rates due to Rainbow Trout being easier to catch, but still provide a Brown Trout component to the fishery. The number of Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout fingerlings stocked into the Youghiogheny River from 2003-2014 ranged from 60-130 fish/ac for each species, with Sections 02-04 having the highest stocking rates. These fingerlings averaged 50-125 mm (2–5 in) in length and are stocked in the spring. The PFBC stocks a higher density annually of these smaller size fingerlings recognizing that survival is likely lower than larger fingerlings. These stocked fingerling trout are primarily responsible for the very popular trout fishery in Section 03 managed with All-Tackle Trophy Trout. We have not been able to adequately determine the efficacy of this regulation due to difficult sampling conditions and small sample sizes. The 2012 versus 1994 sampling events point toward improvement of the trout population; however, the considerable water quality improvement that has occurred has to be considered as an important factor to the improvement in the trout population, rather than regulations alone. Our 2012 and 2014 surveys included low numbers of trout captured from all sites where trout fingerlings are stocked, especially in Sections 02, 04, and 05. We would normally discontinue fingerling stocking with the low numbers sampled. However, the unique nature of the Youghiogheny River habitat and the difficulties encountered sampling this river likely resulted in considerably more fish being present than were sampled. We will at least hold that decision until we have some volunteer angler log book data from 2015 and 2016 as a secondary tool that may help to determine in which parts of the river trout are being caught and provide further guidance with future trout stocking. In 2012, some anglers reported increased catches of Rainbow Trout 350- 400 mm (14-16 in). The anglers’ perceptions were that a relatively small plant of larger Rainbow Trout (mean length 200 mm; 8 in) in 2010 led to a much better fishery in 2012 and 2013 for these large Rainbows. Aging with scales from our 2012 sample yielded Rainbow Trout ranging from 350- 425 mm (14-17 in) that were from four age classes including those from stockings in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Additional evidence that Rainbow Trout from the 2008, 2009, and 2010 year classes likely came from smaller fingerlings stocked comes from back calculated length at age 1 of 161 mm (6.3 in). The 200 mm (8 in) average Rainbow Trout stocked in 2010 were five percent of the total number stocked over those four years. The PFBC stocked larger trout fingerlings up until about 1995. As described earlier, the more recent approach to stocking this tailwater fishery has been with higher numbers of smaller trout earlier in the year for a variety of reasons including that they have survived and created an attractive fishery especially in Sections 02 and 03, and a limited fishery in Section 04 and 05. An administrative decision was 3 made that beginning in 2015, 7,000 of the Rainbow Trout fingerlings will be stocked in Section 03 during the summer months as advanced fingerlings. There will be limited opportunity to evaluate any change in the size of fingerlings stocked outside of angler feedback, which has been limited to date. Clipping of fingerlings along with angler interviews may be considered in the future to evaluate survival and contribution to the fishery but is not feasible under current staffing levels. Walleye stocking in Section 06 was discontinued in 2007. The 2014 sample from Section 06 included nine Walleye from the Cedar Creek/Boston site, ranging from length group 225 mm (9 in) to 650 mm (26 in). The 2014 sample included five year classes present in the sample. No walleye were collected in 1992 sampling at the Cedar Creek/Boston sites, with over seven years of Walleye stocking prior to that sampling. The 2014 survey demonstrates that natural reproduction of Walleye occurs in Section 06 with the potential to sustain a suitable standing stock to sustain the Walleye fishery. Muskellunge are currently managed with supplemental stocking in Section 06. Sampling in 2014 yielded six fish with a range of sizes from the 225 mm (9 in) group up to one of legal size (over 1,016 mm; 40 in). This is considered a good catch in Area 8 as we rarely handle Muskellunge while doing river night electroboat sampling. Also, this was not a targeted Muskellunge survey, which likely would have yielded higher catches. We plan to continue to manage with supplemental stocking of Muskellunge in Section 06. 4 MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Continue to manage Youghiogheny River, Sections 02 through 06 for their high quality naturally reproducing Smallmouth Bass populations with statewide regulations. 2. Continue to manage Sections 02 through 05 with the stocking of a combination of Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout fingerlings at rates listed in Table 2. The mix will be requested as 70 percent Rainbow Trout and 30 percent Brown Trout starting in 2016; instead of the current 50 percent for each species.

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